Method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle, modified toy vehicle driveline, and kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle is provided. The first step involves disengaging a first end of an original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a gearbox of the toy vehicle, where the gearbox is in a location such that it limits the travel of the suspension of the toy truck beuase it can come into contact with the differential. The second step involves disengaging a second end of the original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a transfer box. The third step includes removing the original drive shaft from the toy vehicle. The fourth step involves dismounting the gearbox from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. Next, the transfer box is dismounted from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. The gearbox is then remounted to the first longitudinal beam with a first bracket and to the second longitudinal beam with a second bracket such that the gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located such that the gearbox is positioned away from the differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis. The transfer box is then remounted to the chassis in a position that is 180 degrees relative to the original mounting position. Next, a first end of a replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the gearbox and a second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the transfer box. Finally, the propeller shaft is reengaged with the transfer box. A modified toy vehicle driveline and a kit for modifying a toy vehicle driveline are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to an electrically powered toy vehicle. More particularly, the present invention pertains to driveline kit for a remote-controlled toy vehicle that enables repositioning of a servo or a gearbox of a drive line of the vehicle.

Description of the Related Art

Electrically powered four-wheeled toy vehicles, for example, remote controlled toy trucks 10, as shown in FIG. 1 , are known in the art. The toy truck 10 typically includes an electrical motor (not shown) operatively coupled to a gearbox 14 or servo that in turn is operatively coupled to a transfer box 16 via a drive shaft 18. The transfer box 16 is operatively coupled to a front differential 20 and a rear differential 22 via a front propeller shaft 24 and a rear propeller shaft 26 respectively. Therefore, the power from the electric motor is transferred to the front wheels 28 via the gearbox 14, transfer box 16, the front propeller shaft 24, and the front differential 20, while the power is transferred to the rear wheels 30 via the gearbox 14, the transfer box 16, the rear propeller shaft 26, and the rear differential 22.

As can been seen from FIG. 1 , the gearbox 14 and the transfer box 16 are supported on a chassis 32 having a first longitudinal beam 33 a and a second longitudinal beam 33 b, that in turn is coupled to the wheels 28, 30 via a suspension system 34. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the gearbox 14 is arranged is arranged directly above the front differential 20 such that the gearbox 14 may contact the front differential 20 and/or the front propeller shaft 24 during a downward movement of the chassis 32 when the wheels 28 encounter a ditch or a bump during travel to provide suitable suspension to the chassis 32 relative to the wheels 28 , thereby limiting the overall suspension travel of the suspension system 34.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a kit that enables repositioning of the gearbox of a drive line of a four-wheel drive toy vehicle to facilitate an increase of travel distance of the suspension system.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a kit that is easy to assemble with the existing driveline of the toy vehicle.

The present invention meets these objects by providing a kit having a drive shaft and a two universal joints for connecting the drive shaft with a gear box and a transfer box of the toy vehicle.

According to one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle. The first step involves disengaging a first end of an original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a gearbox of the toy vehicle. The gearbox being arranged at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of a chassis, and located proximate to a first longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis, while a differential of the vehicle is also arranged proximate to the first longitudinal beam relative to the second longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned above the differential on the same side of the central longitudinal axis. The second step involves disengaging a second end of the original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a transfer box. The transfer box has a first end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis and a second end connected to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis. The third step includes removing the original drive shaft from the toy vehicle. The fourth step involves dismounting the gearbox from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. Next, the transfer box is dismounted from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. This step further includes disengaging a propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to the differential from the transfer box. Next, the gearbox is remounted to the first longitudinal beam with a first bracket and to the second longitudinal beam with a second bracket such that the gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis such that the gearbox is positioned away from the differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis. The next step involves remounting the transfer box to the chassis wherein the first end of the transfer box is connected to the second longitudinal beam and the second end of the transfer box is connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis in a position that is 180 degrees relative to the original mounting position. Next, a first end of a replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the gearbox and a second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the transfer box. Finally, the propeller shaft is reengaged with the transfer box.

The step of disengaging the propeller shaft from the transfer box may include disengaging a first propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a front differential from the transfer box, and disengaging a second propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a rear differential from the transfer box. The step of reengaging the propeller shaft to the transfer box may include reengaging the first propeller shaft to the transfer box, and reengaging the second propeller shaft to the transfer box. The step of attaching the first end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and the second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box may further include the steps of attaching a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft to the gearbox, and attaching a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft to the transfer box.

The step of remounting the gearbox may further comprise the steps of: attaching a first end portion of the first bracket to the first longitudinal beam; attaching a second end portion of the first bracket to a first side of the gearbox of the toy vehicle, the first and second end portions of the first bracket including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion having a length selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis; and attaching a second side of the gearbox to a second bracket and attaching said second bracket to the second longitudinal beam.

According to a further aspect of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a modified toy vehicle driveline comprising a gearbox, a transfer box, a replacement drive shaft, a differential and a propeller shaft. The gearbox is mounted to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle by a first bracket and mounted to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis by a second bracket. The gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned away from a differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis. The transfer box has a first end connected to the second longitudinal beam and a second end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis. The replacement drive shaft assembly has a first end rotatably connected to the gearbox and a second end rotatably connected to the transfer box. The differential is connected to an axle for imparting rotary motion to a pair of wheels at opposing ends of the axle. A propeller shaft has a first end rotatably connected to the transfer box and a second end rotatably connected to the differential.

The differential of the modified toy vehicle may further include a front differential connected to a front axle and a rear differential connected to a rear axle. The propeller may further include a front propeller connecting the transfer box to the front differential and a rear propeller connecting the transfer box to the rear differential.

The first bracket may include a first end portion for attaching to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle. The first bracket may further include a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the second longitudinal beam of the chassis. The replacement drive shaft assembly may further comprise a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft. The first universal joint being for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and the second universal joint being for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box.

According to a yet further aspect of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle comprising a replacement drive shaft assembly, a first bracket and a second bracket. The replacement drive shaft assembly includes a drive shaft. The first bracket has a first end portion for attaching to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle. The first bracket further includes a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The second bracket is for attaching the gearbox to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle. The length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis. The replacement drive shaft assembly further comprises a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft. The first universal joint is for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and the second universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom view of a toy truck as is known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a toy vehicle with some of the components removed, with a kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle installed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a first bracket of the kit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention that would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a bottom view of a toy vehicle 10, for example, a toy truck, with a kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle installed and with some of the components, for example, wheels, of the vehicle 10 removed is shown. The truck 10, as with the prior art truck shown in FIG. 1 , includes a chassis 32 having two longitudinal beams 33 a, 33 b arranged spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other and lateral beams 108, 110 extending between the longitudinal beams 33 a, 33 b and connected to the longitudinal beams 33 a, 33 b. Further, the truck 10 incudes a plurality of traction members, for example, front wheels and rear wheels, and a suspension system 34 connecting the wheels with the chassis 32. To power the wheels and thus to facilitate a movement of the truck 10, the truck 10 includes a power source, for example, an electric motor 120, connected to a power storage unit (not shown), for example, a battery, and a gearbox 14 operatively coupled to the electric motor 120 via a shaft 124. The gearbox 14 in turn is connected with a transfer box 16 which in turn is operatively coupled to a front differential 20 and a rear differential 22 via a front propeller shaft 24 and a rear propeller shaft 26. The gearbox 14 and the transfer box 16 are supported on the chassis 32, while the front differential 20 and the rear differential 22 are connected to the front wheels and the rear wheels via a front axle 136 and a rear axle 138.

As shown, the gearbox 14 is arranged at an offset from a central longitudinal axis 140 of chassis 32 and is located proximate to a first longitudinal beam 33 a relative to a second longitudinal beam 33 b, while the front differential 20 is arranged proximate to the second longitudinal beam 33 b relative to the first longitudinal beam 33 a. Accordingly, the gearbox 14 and the front differential 20 are arranged on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis 140, and therefore are offset from each other in a lateral direction. Also, the gearbox 14 is arranged offset from the front differential 20 in a longitudinal direction, and is arranged between the front differential 20 and the transfer box 16. Further, the transfer box 16 is arranged substantially centrally in the longitudinal direction.

To connect the gearbox 14 with the longitudinal beams 33 a, 33 b, and thus, to support the gearbox 14 on the chassis 32, the truck 10 includes a first bracket 150 and a second bracket 152. Referring to FIGS. 2 to FIG. 4 , the first bracket 150 has a first end portion 154 (best shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ) that is attached to the second longitudinal beam 33 b and a second end portion 156 (best shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ) that attached to a first side of the gearbox 14. Further, the first bracket 150 includes a central portion 158 extending from the first end portion 154 to the second end portion 156. A length of the central portion 158 is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox 14 from the second longitudinal beam 33 b so that the gearbox 14 is prevented from contacting the front differential 20 and/or the first propeller shaft, thereby increasing the upward travel of the wheels or the front axle 136 during suspension of the wheels relative to the chassis 32. In an embodiment, the first end portion 152 and the second end portion 154 are connected to the second longitudinal beam 33 b and the gearbox 14 via fasteners that extends through holes of the first end portion 154 and the second end portion 156.

Similarly, the second bracket 152 connects the second side of the gearbox 14 with the first longitudinal beam 33 a. The second bracket 152 is connected to the gearbox 14 and the first longitudinal beam 33 a via the fasteners. Further, the gearbox 14 is operatively connected with the transfer box 16 via a drive shaft assembly 160 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 ) having a drive shaft 162 and two universal joints, for example, a first universal joint 164 arranged at a first end of the drive shaft 162 and a second universal joint 166 arranged at a second end of the drive shaft 162. The universal joints 164, 166 are utilized for transferring power from the gearbox 14 to the transfer box 16 as an output shaft of the gearbox 14 and an input shaft of the transfer box 16 are arranged substantially parallel and at an offset in a lateral direction.

A method for repositioning a gearbox of a toy truck, for example, the gearbox 14 of the toy truck 10, by using a kit 200 (shown in FIG. 3 ) is now explained. The kit 200 includes the drive shaft assembly 160 having the drive shaft 162, the first bracket 150, and the second bracket 152. For repositioning the gearbox 14, a technician disengages the drive shaft 18 from the gearbox 14 and the transfer box 16, and dismounts the gearbox 14 and the transfer box 16 from the longitudinal beams 33 a, 33 b of the chassis 32 of the toy truck 10. For so doing, the propeller shafts 24, 26 are also disengaged from the transfer box 16. Thereafter, the technician may position/shift the gearbox 14 at the desired position, i.e., proximate to the first longitudinal beam 33 a relative the second longitudinal beam 33 b. Also, the gearbox 14 is positioned such that the gearbox 14 is relatively shifted towards the rear of the toy truck 100 in the new position. The gearbox 14 is mounted at the desired position by mounting the first end portion 154 of the first bracket 150 to the second longitudinal beam 33 b and the second end portion 156 to the gearbox 14. Further, the gearbox 14 is mounted to the first longitudinal beam 33 a by engaging the second bracket 152 to the first longitudinal beam 33 a and the gearbox 14. The technician may engage the first bracket 150 and the second bracket 152 to the second longitudinal beam 33 b and the first longitudinal beam 33 a respectively using fasteners. In this manner, the gearbox 14 is relocated to the new position that corresponds to the position of the gearbox 14 shown in FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the gearbox 14 is relocated at the desired position, which is further rearward from initial position of the gearbox 14 and is laterally offset from the second longitudinal beam 33 b. In this manner, the gearbox 14 is mounted at a location that is away from the front differential 20 and does not interfere/contact with the front differential 20 when the chassis 32 is moved downwardly relative to the front wheels.

Further, to enable the transfer of power from the gearbox 14 to the transfer box 16, the transfer box is rotated 180 degrees relative to initial mounting position (as shown in FIG. 1 ) and is mounted to the chassis 32 that corresponds to the position of the transfer box 16 shown in FIG. 2 . Thereafter, the technician engages the first universal joint 164 arranged at the first end of the shaft 162 with the output shaft of the gearbox 14 and the engages the second universal joint 166 arranged at the second end of the shaft 162 with the input shaft of the transfer box 16. Moreover, the technician engages the propeller shafts 24, 26 to the transfer box 16. Accordingly, ends of the propeller shafts 24, 26 connected to the transfer box 16 are arranged proximate to the second longitudinal beam 33 b in the new assembly as compared to the ends of propeller shafts 24, 26 (as shown in FIG. 1 ) that are arranged proximate to the first longitudinal beam 33 a. In this manner, the toy truck 10 is retrofitted with the kit 200 to reposition the gearbox 14 to allow maximum travel of the suspension system 34.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

I claim:
 1. A method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle comprising the steps of: a. disengaging a first end of an original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said gearbox being arranged at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of a chassis, and located proximate to a first longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis, while a differential of the vehicle is also arranged proximate to the first longitudinal beam relative to the second longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned above the differential on the same side of the central longitudinal axis; b. disengaging a second end of the original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a transfer box, said transfer box having a first end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis and a second end connected to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis; c. removing the original drive shaft from the toy vehicle; d. dismounting the gearbox from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis; e. dismounting the transfer box from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis, said step further including disengaging a propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to said differential from said transfer box; f. remounting the gearbox to the first longitudinal beam with a first bracket and to the second longitudinal beam with a second bracket such that the gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis such that the gearbox is positioned away from the differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis; g. remounting the transfer box to said chassis wherein the first end of the transfer box is connected to the second longitudinal beam and the second end of the transfer box is connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis in a position that is 180 degrees relative to the original mounting position; h. attaching a first end of a replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and a second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box; and i. reengaging the propeller shaft to the transfer box.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disengaging a propeller shaft from said transfer box includes disengaging a first propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a front differential from the transfer box, and disengaging a second propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a rear differential from the transfer box.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of reengaging the propeller shaft to the transfer box includes reengaging the first propeller shaft to the transfer box, and reengaging the second propeller shaft to the transfer box.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the first end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and the second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box further comprises: a. attaching a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft to the gearbox, and b. attaching a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft to the transfer box.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remounting the gearbox further comprises the steps of: a. attaching a first end portion of the first bracket to the first longitudinal beam; b. attaching a second end portion of the first bracket to a first side of the gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first and second end portions of said first bracket including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion having a length selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis; and c. attaching a second side of the gearbox to a second bracket and attaching said second bracket to the second longitudinal beam.
 6. A modified toy vehicle driveline comprising: a. a gearbox mounted to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle by a first bracket and mounted to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis by a second bracket, said gearbox being positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned away from a differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis; b. a transfer box having a first end connected to the second longitudinal beam and a second end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis; c. a replacement drive shaft assembly having a first end rotatably connected to said gearbox and a second end rotatably connected to said transfer box; and d. a differential connected to an axle for imparting rotary motion to a pair of wheels at opposing ends of the axle, and e. a propeller shaft having a first end rotatably connected to the transfer box and a second end rotatably connected to the differential.
 7. The modified toy vehicle driveline according to claim 6 wherein said differential comprises a front differential connected to a front axle and a rear differential connected to a rear axle, and said propeller comprises a front propeller connecting said transfer box to said front differential and a rear propeller connecting said transfer box to said rear differential.
 8. The modified toy vehicle driveline according to claim 6 wherein said first bracket includes a first end portion for attaching to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first bracket further including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion.
 9. The modified toy vehicle driveline according to claim 8 wherein a length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the second longitudinal beam of the chassis.
 10. The modified toy vehicle driveline according to claim 6 wherein the replacement drive shaft assembly further comprises a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft, said first universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and said second universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box.
 11. A kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle comprising: a. A replacement drive shaft assembly having a drive shaft, b. a first bracket having a first end portion for attaching to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first bracket further including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. c. a second bracket for attaching the gearbox to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle.
 12. The kit according to claim 11 wherein a length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis.
 13. The kit according to claim 11 wherein the replacement drive shaft assembly further comprises a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft, said first universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and said second universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box. 